Senate President Cullerton says he'll revive 'fumigation' bill

Gov. Pat Quinn's refusal to fire two University of Illinois trustees is reviving a so-called fumigation bill aimed at hundreds of state workers.

State Capitol Bureau

Gov. Pat Quinn's refusal to fire two University of Illinois trustees is reviving a so-called fumigation bill aimed at hundreds of state workers.

At a news conference in Chicago today, Quinn announced two replacements to the university board but said he would not fire two other trustees who have refused to heed Quinn's calls to step down. The governor said he didn't want to wage a lengthy and costly court battle and instead wanted to focus on reforming the board.

A spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton said after Quinn's announcement that the president plans to call Senate Bill 1333 for a vote in the legislature's October veto session.

That measure, pushed through the House by Speaker Michael Madigan, would fire about 750 workers appointed to their jobs by former Govs. Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan. That includes the two remaining U of I trustees, Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said, while noting the bill was not aimed at them.

But that could be a difficult task. The measure passed the House without opposition but stalled in the Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session. It now needs a supermajority of 36 votes to pass.

Phelon said Senate Democrats have "diverse opinions about" whether the measure is appropriate. Some lawmakers have said it's unfair to punish workers for wrongdoing they weren't involved in.

"Based on various caucus differences in the spring, I would say that there are no guarantees that the legislation will pass," Phelon said. "Nevertheless, it will be called for a vote."